Carrying case and garment hanger



Jan. 24, 1967 K. P. HERZ 3,299,997

CARRYING CASE AND GARMENT HANGER Filed Jan. 13, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Kurt P. Her:

, av 6am and Porter ATTORNEYS Jan. 24, 1967 K. P. HERZ CARRYING CASE AND GARMENT HANGER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 13, 1965 INVENTOR. Kurt FE Hen Geib and Porter 7 ATTORNEYS United States Patent ()fiice 9,299,991 Patented Jan. 24, 1967 3,299,997 CARRYING CASE AND GARMENT HANGER Kurt P. Herz, 2 Woodland Place, Great Neck, NY. 11021 Filed Jan. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 425,228 5 Claims. (Cl. 19043) This invention relates to luggage and particularly to those devices which serve as both a garment carrier and hanger.

Numerous devices of the prior art function in the manner referred to, improved versions thereof being disclosed and claimed in my Patent No. 3,034,552, dated May 15, 1962, and my patent application Serial No. 329,- 507, filed December 10, 1963, Patent No. 3,244,261.

As its title indicates, the device of my Patent No. 3,034,552 is a garment cover and it consists essentially of a substantially rectangular envelope with closed top, bottom and side panels and front and back panels which are provided with centrally disposed longitudinally extending zipper fasteners for obtaining access to the garments disposed therein, said garments being carried on conventional wire garment hangers whose hooked ends project from apertures in the otherwise closed top panel whereby garment cover and contents may be satisfactorily suspended. According to such construction a user is able to easily and quickly remove a desired garment from the suspended garment cover regardless of its position with respect to the front or back panel: at all other times the garment cover being completely closed.

On the other hand, the device of my copending patent application Serial No. 329,507 is both a garment cover (and hanger) and a garment carrier since it may be folded along its transverse centerline, secured in such position and carried by a conveniently disposed handle.

The device of the present invention, while possessing certain of the features of my aforementioned Patent No. 3,034,552 and copending patent application Serial No. 329,507, is of the type which comprises two complementary halves which with the garment compartment opened out, extend in continuity one with the other so that the garement compartment may be hung vertically on a hook or other Supporting means and utilized as a wardrobe. As do some of the devices of the prior art the present invention comprises a back panel forming a hinged connection between the two halves with an edge to edge zipper fastener connecting the remaining portions thereof when the garment compartment is folded along its transverse center-line and in carrying position. Secured to the opposite ends of the back panel are matching carrying handles; and the interior of one of the two halves (i.e., the bottom half of the garment compartment when in extended and suspended position) is provided with an interior panel providinga compartment which is closed by means of a transversely extending edge-t-o-edge zipper fastener.

The present invention has among its objects the provision of a relatively small and light-weight travelling bag of the type generally described hereinbefore but which embodies a fixture and hanger by means of which a suit may be neatly folded and held preparatory to closing the bag.

Another object is to provide a hanger which is conventionally per se but which combines with a novel fixture for achieving the neat folding and holding of a suit during the packing operation.

Still another object is the provision of a novel fixturehanger combination which may be easily and quickly fastened in, or removed from, the garment compartment of the travelling bag.

Further objects are ease and inexpensiveness of manufacture but without sacrifice to efliciency and durability in service, attractiveness in appearance and lightness in weight.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective elevational view of a device which embodies the teachings of the present invention in extended garment-hanging position installed in a travelling bag;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective elevational view which illustrates the device of FIGURE 1 installed in a travelling bag in a folded position, ready for travel;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational perspective view illustrating the novel fixture-hanger combination with the fixture in its fully opened position;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view showing the fixture hanger in open position in a travelling bag, with a pair of trousers arranged therein;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 4 with a suit arranged in the travelling bag;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 4 but illustrating a suit on the hanger and the fixture in halfclosed position; and

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6, but with the fixture in fully closed position and the travelling bag ready for closing.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the outer or exterior panel or body member 1 of the carrying case and garment hanger of the invention is formed of any suitable flexible material, such as cloth, rubber, leather, or plastic and of an overall length which is approximately the length'of the coat of a mans suit and far shorter than a topcoat or a womans cape, dress, or the like. This outer or exterior panel or body member 1 may be provided with a closely conforming lining 3. According to a present permissive embodiment the outer or exterior panel or body member 1 is of cloth and the lining 3 of a suitable plastic such as vinyl. Completely disposed around the periphery of the outer or exterior body member 1 is a zippered fastener 4.

As shown in the drawings, the zipper fastener 4 which extends continuously around the periphery of the outer or exterior panel or body member 1 is directed inwardly so that when the opposed-elements of the zipper fastener are in edge-to-edge interlocked relationship there will be an appreciable amount of space within the doubledover garment compartment, thus providing space for several garments and appurtenances thereto as will be more specifically described hereinafter.

Assuming the travelling bag to be in its fully opened or extended condition, the upper edge of the outer panel 1 is provided with a pair of spaced and inwardly extending straps 8 which are of sufiicient length to permit of their being doubled over upon themselves to form loops 8a and secured in such position by snap fasteners 8b.

When in the immediately aforementioned position, the closed loops 8a formed by the straps 8 encircle and hold the upper longitudinal member of a rectangular frame 10 which may be formed of wire or the like.

This rectangular frame 10 comprises upper and lower longitudinal members 10a and 16b respectively, which are considerably narrower than the width of the outer panel 1 but considerably wider than a conventional coat hanger. The ends of these longitudinal frame members 10a and 10b are connected by transverse extending end members 100 and 10d which are hinged at their approxirnate centers, as shown at me for a purpose which will be later described. It will be noted that while the end members 10c and 10d are shorter than the longitudinal frame members 10a and 10b they are considerably longer than one-half of the depth of the garment compartment in which they are disposed.

Mounted at the approximate center of the upper longitudinal frame member 10a is a hanger support 12 carrying a stud 12a which is received in the interlocking recess 13a of a conventional coat or suit hanger 13 of the type usually employed in travelling bags and the like. Usually coat or suit hangers of the type shown at 13 are provided with a pivoted hinge hook 131) having a portion 130 'which closes the interlocking recess 13a when the hook is in its operative or upright position.

The function of the rectangular frame or hanger fixture 10 is to permit the neat and easy folding of a suitcoat upon the hanger 13 as will be described immediately hreinafter.

With the fixture or rectangular frame 10 in raised position, trousers may be transversely folded in the usual manner and placed in the garment compartment therebelow in contact with the lining 3. In doing this the widest part of the trousers should be disposed toward the center of th travelling bag because it will roll over when the bag is folded and the zipper closed.

Next the fixture or rectangular frame 10 is placed on top of the trousers, the coat or jacket of the suit placed on the hanger 13 and the hanger attached to the stud 12a of the hanger support 12.

The sleeves of the coat or jacket ar straightened and the lower half of the fixture or rectangular frame 10 lifted (on both sides simultaneously) while holding the coat or jacket so that it does not slide away from the fixture.

When the pivotally mounted lower half of the fixture or rectangular frame 10 is at right angles with respect to the upper half thereof, the tail of the coat will be drawn in.

Then the pivotally mounted lower half of the fixture is lowered into its initial full rectangular position While holding the adjacent portion of the coat in folding position against the underside of lower half of the fixture. Thereafter the coat will be found to be neatly and accurately folded in three ways. i

A transverse strap 19 is secured to the side edges of the outside panel 1 and extends across the upper garment compartment to hold the coat and trousers firmly therein, the said strap being secured in holding position by means of a snap fastener 20 or any other suitable means.

As mentioned earlier herein, the lower half of the interior is provided with a rectangular panel 21 which is preferably of transparent plastic material. This rectangular panel 21 is secured in position along its edges and provided with a zipper fastener 22 for obtaining access to the space between it and the adjacent portion of the lining 3 which serves as a compartment for various clothing and/ or other items. 4

From the foregoing it will be perceived that the travelling bag or garment carrier and hanger of the present invention is soft and light in weight since it embodies neither supporting frame .iioi stiffening members such as gussets, etc. The handles are so arranged that when the case or travelling bag is opened the garment on the hanger can be hung on the hanger while the hanger is still attached to the fixture with both hanger and fixture in freely swinging position.

On the other hand, the hanger can be detached from the bag with or Without the fixture and hung on some other supporting medium.

Although the device readily holds a full suit of a large sized man, and provides sizable storage space for other items, it folds in half to a very small size and is therefore easily transported.

While I have shown and described certain specific embodiments of the present invention, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that I do not wish to be limited exactly thereto, since various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A garment carrier and hanger comprising a substantially rectangular body member foldable along its transverse centerline; a pair of cooperative carrying handles secured to the opposite ends of said substantially rectangular body member; a zipper fastener for closing and securing the meeting edges of said substantially rectangular body member when the garment carrier and hanger is in its transversely folded carrying position; a substantially rectangular frame adapted for disposition in said garment carrier and hanger; the length of said substantially rectangular frame being greater than the width of a standard size coat hanger but materially less than the width of said substantially rectangular frame being materially greater than the overall depth of a standard size coat hanger but less than one-half the length of said substantially rectangular body member; each of the shorter side members of said substantially rectangular frame including an intermediately disposed hinged joint 'whereby the lower half of said substantially rectangular frame may be raised and lowered with respect to the upper half thereof; means on one of the longer members of said substantially rectangular frame for supporting the hook of a coat hanger; and means extending inwardly from one of the ends of said substantially rectangular body member for supporting the immediately aforementioned longer member of said substantially rectangular frame.

2. The garment carrier and hanger of claim 1, together with a garment retaining strap extending transversely of said substantially rectangular body member and overlying said substantially rectangular frame.

3. The garment carrier and hanger of claim 1, together with a storage compartment on the interior of said substantially rectangular body member; said storage compartment being disposed opposite said substantially rectangular frame when said substantially rectangular body member is in transversely folded position.

4. A garment carrier and hanger comprising a frameless flexible and substantially rectangular body member foldable along its transverse centerline; a pair of cooperative carrying handles secured to the opposite ends of said substantially rectangular body member; a zipper fastener for closing and securing the meeting edges of said substantially rectangular body member when the garment carrier and hanger is in its transversely folded carrying position; a substantially rectangular frame adapted for disposition in said garment carrier and hanger; the length of said substantially rectangular frame being greater than the width of a standard size coat hanger but materially less than the width of said substantially rectangular body member; the width of said substantially rectangular frame being materially greater than the overall depth of a standard size coat hanger but less than onehalf the length of said substantially rectangular body member; the shorter side members of said substantially rectangular frame including an intermediately disposed hinged joint whereby the lower half of said substantially rectangular frame may be raised and lowered with respect to the upper half thereof; means intermediately disposed on one of the longer members of said substantially rectangular frame for supporting the hook of a coat hanger; and means extending inwardly from one of the ends of said substantially rectangular body member for supporting the immediately aforementioned longer member of said substantially rectangular frame.

5. The garment carrier and hanger of claim 4 wherein the substantially rectangular frame is composed of Wire, and the means extending inwardly from one of the ends of the substantially rectangular body member for supporting said substantially rectangular frame comprises a pair of looped straps.

References Cited by the Examiner FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. 

1. A GARMENT CARRIER AND HANGER COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR BODY MEMBER FOLDABLE ALONG ITS TRANSVERSE CENTERLINE; A PAIR OF COOPERATIVE CARRYING HANDLES SECURED TO THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR BODY MEMBER; A ZIPPER FASTENER FOR CLOSING AND SECURING THE MEETING EDGES OF SAID SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR BODY MEMBER WHEN THE GARMENT CARRIER AND HANGER IS IN ITS TRANSVERSELY FOLDED CARRYING POSITION; A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR FRAME ADAPTED FOR DISPOSITION IN SAID GARMENT CARRIER AND HANGER; THE LENGTH OF SAID SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR FRAME BEING GREATER THAN THE WIDTH OF A STANDARD SIZE COAT HANGER BUT MATERIALLY LESS THAN THE WIDTH OF SAID SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR FRAME BEING MATERIALLY GREATER THAN THE OVERALL DEPTH OF A STANDARD SIZE COAT HANGER BUT LESS THAN ONE-HALF THE LENGTH OF SAID SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR BODY MEMBER; EACH OF THE SHORTER SIDE MEMBERS OF SAID SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR FRAME INCLUDING AN INTERMEDIATELY DISPOSED HINGED JOINT WHEREBY THE LOWER HALF OF SAID SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR FRAME MAY BE RAISED AND LOWERED WITH RESPECT TO THE UPPER HALF THEREOF; MEANS ON ONE OF THE LONGER MEMBERS OF SAID SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR FRAME FOR SUPPORTING THE HOOK OF A COAT HANGER; AND MEANS EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM ONE OF THE ENDS OF SAID SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR BODY MEMBER FOR SUPPORTING THE IMMEDIATELY AFOREMENTIONED LONGER MEMBER OF SAID SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR FRAME. 